AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Youth and inexperience? Well, inexperience I could buy, but youth? Jeez.
‘I know how damp and cold that basement is,’ she continued. ‘You poor thing.’
‘To be fair,’ I said, ‘she did leave me a blanket, and a comfy sofa to lie on.’
‘Well, that’s something I suppose,’ she said grudgingly. ‘Although I expect your family will have something to say about it when they arrive, and who can blame them? Poor Sister Agnes. I hope they don’t hold her responsible. It’s such a shame, because she was desperately in need of a break, as she hasn’t been home for ages. To be dragged back because of Sister Gertrude’s foolish actions!’
‘I’m sure my family will understand,’ I said, feeling a sudden warmth at the word family. After Dad left it had just been Mom and me for years. When Mom died I’d been alone in the world for so long. But now I had Sirius, and all his extended family, which seemed to have doubled in size recently. And I had a twin brother! I could hardly believe it.
It almost made up for the fact that “Dad” never existed, and “Mom” was really my Aunt Keresen, and that I’d never got the chance to meet my real parents, Laragh and Ashen Pendragon. I vowed to hang onto the family I had left and cherish them every single moment of every day.
Well, not the other Pendragons, obviously. I’d be very happy never to meet them at all.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear the kitchen door open, and was unaware that another of the old ladies had popped her head around the door until she said, ‘Trinity? Can you come with me, please? Sister Agnes wants to see you.’
Sister Dorothy smiled and nodded encouragingly, so I followed this other woman down the corridor and to a room at the front of the house.
‘In you go,’ the woman said, smiling brightly.
I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my heart lifting at the sight that greeted me. Sirius, Lowen, and Killian were all sitting on a sofa, while Sister Agnes was on a chair opposite them. They all raised their heads to look at me as I walked in, and Sirius was on his feet immediately.
‘Trinity!’
His arms went around me, and he held me so tightly I could barely breathe.
‘Thank the goddess you’re all right,’ he whispered, and I pulled back, emotion overwhelming me as I saw the relief in his tear-filled eyes.
‘I’m fine,’ I promised him. ‘You look tired.’
‘Well,’ he said with a short laugh, ‘I’ve been kind of busy, looking for you.’
‘Oh, honey.’ I hugged him tightly, then we kissed—the kiss of two people who’d been desperately afraid they might never see each other again.
‘Ahem.’ Sister Agnes cleared her throat and we pulled apart, laughing.
‘Sorry, Sister Agnes,’ I said. ‘I’ve kinda missed him, you know?’
‘Oh, that’s quite apparent,’ she said, smiling. ‘And it’s equally apparent he’s missed you, too.’
‘It’s so good to see you, Trinity,’ Lowen said, smiling at me. ‘We were really worried. I’m so sorry I sent you here instead of coming myself. I should never have let you go off alone like that.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ I told him, sitting next to him on the sofa. ‘You tried to warn me, as did Sirius. You’ll soon find out how stubborn I can be. Anyway, I’ll think twice next time.’
‘I was just about to explain to your family what happened,’ Sister Agnes said. ‘They are naturally, ahem, curious as to why you were kidnapped by Sister Gertrude.’
‘I’m kinda curious about that myself,’ I said with feeling. ‘What on earth was she playing at?’
‘To be fair to her,’ Sister Agnes said, ‘she thought she was doing the right thing. She’d seen you walking up Church Street, asking passers-by if they’d heard of me. She was afraid. What you have to understand is that she’s very young, and only joined the Daughters of Hild a few short months ago.’
‘The what?’ I asked, confused.
‘It’s a long story,’ Sirius told me, squeezing my hand. ‘I’ll tell you when we get home, but basically, this is an order of, well, let’s call them nuns for want of a better word, who are dedicated to the memory of Abbess Hilda of Whitby Abbey. They provide sanctuary for magical beings in need.’
‘This is the sanctuary our mother came to before she had us,’ Lowen said, his voice thick with emotion. ‘This is where we were born, Trinity.’
I swallowed. ‘It is?’ It was a lot to take in, knowing our mother had been here, in this very house. I’d give anything to have her walk through that door right now. ‘So, if you’re on our side, why did Sister Gertrude kidnap me?’
‘She didn’t know who you were,’ Sister Agnes explained. ‘She thought you were a threat, and decided to put you somewhere safe until I could question you. Unfortunately I was home visiting family, which was why you had to remain there so long. If I’d been here I could have sorted this mess out immediately. I’m so sorry, Trinity.’
